Static electricity

What is static electricity?

Static electricity is the build-up of electric charge on the surface of objects. It occurs when electrons are transferred from one object to another, leading to one object becoming negatively charged (with excess electrons) and the other positively charged (with a deficit of electrons).

How do objects become charged?

Objects become charged through the process of friction between two insulating objects, where electrons are transferred from one object to another.

What is the Law of Electrostatics?

The law states that like charges repel, and opposite charges attract. This means:

• Positive charges repel other positive charges.

• Negative charges repel other negative charges.

• Positive and negative charges attract each other.

What are electric field lines?

Electric field lines represent the direction of the electric force around a charged object. They show the path that a positive test charge would follow. Electric field lines always point away from positive charges and toward negative charges.

What is the shape of electric field lines around a point charge?

The electric field lines around a point charge are radially symmetric. For a positive charge, the lines radiate outward, and for a negative charge, they point inward.

How do electric field lines show the strength of an electric field?

The density of electric field lines shows the strength of the electric field. The closer the lines are, the stronger the electric field. Where the lines are farther apart, the field is weaker.

What happens to electric field lines in a uniform electric field?

In a uniform electric field, the electric field lines are parallel, equally spaced, and point in the same direction. This can be observed between two parallel plates where the electric field is constant.

What happens when a charged object is brought near an uncharged object?

If a charged object is brought near an uncharged object, the charges within the uncharged object will rearrange. This can cause the uncharged object to become polarized or even cause charge induction if the charges are strong enough.

What is the concept of charge induction?

Charge induction occurs when a charged object induces a redistribution of charges in a nearby neutral object, causing one side of the object to become positively charged and the other negatively charged. This can lead to attraction between the charged and neutral objects.

What is an electric field?

An electric field is a region around a charged object where other charged objects experience a force. The strength and direction of the force are determined by the magnitude of the charge and the distance from the charge.